Adverb clauses bring variety of information to sentences – time, place, manner, condition, concession, purpose, and more. Information on exception, provided by adverb clause of exception, is the topic of this post.
Learn more: This post covers just one adverb clause. Learn other types of adverb clause.
What is adverb clause of exception?
Adverb clauses of exception provide exception to what’s mentioned in the matrix clause. (Matrix clause is what’s left after removing subordinate clause. In the sentence Nothing would calm the dog but that I take him for a walk, for example, Nothing would calm the dog is matrix clause.) They’re introduced
- mainly by but that [in formal use] and except (that)
- occasionally by excepting (that) and save that [in formal use]
The four together are called exception subordinators or exception subordinating conjunctions.
Note: (that) means that is optional.
Of these, except (that), excepting (that), and save that are used similarly, but but that is used differently. First, unlike most adverb clauses, it’s not mobile in a sentence: It can come only after its matrix clause (see first example). Second, matrix clause can only be a negative clause. Examples:
Nothing would calm the dog but that I take him for a walk.
[You can’t place adverb clause but that I take him for a walk before matrix clause Nothing would calm the dog. Second, the matrix clause is negative. Third, as far as meaning is concerned, the adverb clause provides an exception to the fact that nothing would calm the dog.]
She wouldn’t accept the offer despite its many benefits but that it included a higher salary, which she felt she deserved for her expertise. [The adverb clause provides exception to her not joining the offer: higher salary.]
I would have surely qualified the entrance exam, except (that) I made few silly mistakes in the last paper.
We successfully bagged the project, except (that) we had to reduce the price.
The proposal was accepted by the committee for its innovative approach, excepting (that) it required minor revisions to meet all regulatory guidelines.
The trip was perfect, save that I lost my wallet on the last day.
He would have been on time, save that his car broke down.
Besides the above subordinators, in informal use, only can introduce adverb clause of exception:
I would have finished the homework, only I got distracted by YouTube.
They were ready to start the meeting, only the main speaker had not arrived yet.
Mixed signals: An adverb clause may convey multiple meanings simultaneously
Adverb clauses are known for conveying multiple meanings at a time – and adverb clause of exception is no different. It often conveys meaning of condition as well. Let’s take few of the earlier examples to understand this:
I would have surely qualified the entrance exam, except (that) I made few silly mistakes in the last paper. [Conditional meaning: I would have surely qualified the entrance exam, if I hadn’t made few silly mistakes in the last paper.]
He would have been on time, save that his car broke down. [Conditional meaning: He would have been on time, if his car hadn’t broken down.]
Adverb clauses introduced by unless express meaning of condition and exception at the same time. That’s why unless can be replaced by except if.
You won’t understand the concept unless you pay close attention in class. [Conditional meaning: You won’t understand the concept if you don’t pay close attention in class.]
The clause can be non-finite as well
We typically associate adverb clauses with what we’ve seen so far, the ones with subject and finite verb. (Grammatically speaking, these are finite adverb clauses.) But adverb clauses can be non-finite as well. These are essentially reduction of finite clauses introduced by but that, we saw earlier.
(Finite vs. non-finite clause: If you don’t know what finite and non-finite clauses are, here is a simplified difference between the two. A finite clause contains a finite verb. It’s another term for noun clause, relative clause, and adverb clause. A non-finite clause contains a non-finite verb. It’s another term for infinitive phrase, participial phrase, and gerund phrase.)
Examples:
Nothing would calm the dog but for me to take him for a walk.
She wouldn’t accept the offer despite its many benefits but for it to include a higher salary, which she felt she deserved for her expertise.
